Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

"....."

No words came out of my mouth as I looked at the small symbol that glowed blue in Ashlyn's hands.

It was the basic symbol used to move the flow of mana from the body to the environment.

...But still, it's hard to imagine, let alone manifest them.

...And she did that on her fifth try.

...Is this how geniuses are?

[...Come on, don't overreact, you were able to do that as well.]

'El, you don't have to comfort me.'

I mean, I was learning about Runic symbol since I was a child even though I couldn't use them.

"Az?" I shifted my focus back to Ashlyn as her golden eyes blinked innocently.

"...Yeah, that's how you do it," I replied with a light smile, nodding my head.

She beamed blissfully, clapping her hands in excitement and smiling proudly.

"...Okay." Calming herself down, she whispered, tucking her caramel hair properly, "...So, what's next?"

"...After symbols comes the delicate part," I replied, bringing a pen and a notebook closer. "...Because this is the part where the keystones are used."

"Keystones?" she asked, tilting her head.

"Thirty-six keystones...They are like instructions embedded into the magic circle that determine what form, size, or direction the mana will take."

Drawing a simple arrow pointing downwards in the notebook, I explained as she leaned in, looking at the drawing.

'...'

...Is she dumb?

...Why is she sitting so close to me?

...She smells nice, though.

Kinda like... roses?

"...So they are like commands?" My trail of thoughts stopped at her comment. "...We use them to make different things from mana?"

"...Pretty much."

Nodding, I replied before placing the pen down and focusing on the drawing.

"...Like this one here, it may seem like a simple arrow, but—."

Opening my palm, I imagined the runic symbol of wind, and mana rushed towards it instantly while a light greenish symbol emerged.

Around the symbol, I imagined a single downward arrow that worked as the keystone.

Closing all of it around a circle, I brought it above her head.

Swish!

A small gust of wind rushed through the circle, blowing her hair all around the place.

She narrowed her eyes as strands of her hair flew around her.

"...What was that for?" she complained with a pout adorning her face while her eyes leered at me.

"...That's how it works," I explained, retracting my hand like nothing happened.

Her pout deepened as she combed her hair properly with her hands. "...So, can anyone use any type of magic circle?"

"...it depends." Shrugging, I replied, reclining in the chair.

"...Every person has different affinities toward the elements, like Oliver has the highest affinity toward wind and will always find it easy to use magic circles related to it."

"...Hmm, makes me wonder what's my affinity," she inquired with a doubtful look on her face.

"...Why don't you try light?" I suggested, shifting in my seat before taking the notebook and drawing the runic symbol for light.

"Why light?" she countered, tilting her head.

"...Just try it." I urged her, passing the notebook.

[...She has the highest affinity with light, right?]

'...Yep.'

[...Is it wise, telling her something this important early on?]

'...Come on, what could go wrong with her knowing her affinity?' n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

[...Just don't regret your choices later on.]

'Yeah, yeah.'

"...I heard my name." My gaze shifted as Oliver's voice echoed in my ears.

For some reason, he had changed his seat and was now sitting beside me.

"...Nobody called you," I rebuked, shooing him away.

"...I hate you, Azariah."

I abruptly looked at Aaliyah, who whispered those words while walking past me.

...What did I do?

"...Hey, Aaliyah, look at this." Ashlyn quickly grabbed the girl, making her sit down right beside her.

"...What are you looking at?" I asked, glancing at Oliver, whose gaze was fixed on a student sitting at the table beside us.

"...That girl," he mumbled solemnly, looking at the girl sitting beside Miley having a chat with teacher Daphne. "...Her name is Ruby, remember her?"

"...No, is she someone special?" I asked, looking at the girl with short natural brown hair.

"...You humiliated her father at the ball party last year," Oliver informed, making me flinch. "...The one who had to kneel down just because you bumped into him."

"....."

I remained silent as my gaze stayed on that girl, and the longer I saw her, the more she reminded me of her father.

"...You know, her father tired to commit suicide later on," Oliver added.

"...So?" I finally asked, my voice rough.

"...You're not going to apologize—"

"No."

"...Ego?"

"Think what you want," I grumbled, not explaining anything more.

[...Azariah.]

'...I told you, didn't I? I am not a good person.'

[...You can try to fix—]

'...I can't. Even if I wanted to, I can't apologize.'

I haven't apologized to anyone in a long time.

My mother never allowed me to.

She has too much pride to see her son bow his head in front of another person.

Heck, when I was a child, I was beaten whenever I apologized to servants for my mistakes.

...The last time I genuinely apologized was to Christina.

...I apologized for making her love me, and even then, I did it when she was sleeping.

"...Do you hate me, now?" I mumbled, glancing at him.

"...Well, you are a bitch sometimes, so yeah, I do," he replied brutally, making me chuckle in response.

"...Yeah, I am not buying it," I replied, shrugging my shoulders.

"Hey, Oliver! Come here!" Both our focus shifted towards Miley as she called out to him.

I also took a quick glance at the girl beside her... and sure enough, she was glaring at me with eyes filled with hatred and fear.

...Well, nothing new there.

"Let's go."

"Hey!"

Grabbing my hand, Oliver forcibly dragged me with him as we both took our seats at their table.

"...Tell her, wasn't the Dronarta Empire the one that ruled three thousand years ago—"

"Hey, hey, hey."

Oliver quickly blocked Miley's mouth with his hand, whispering as he glanced at the smiling teacher, Daphne. "...Don't you know it's taboo to talk about that empire?"

"...That's not important." Removing his hand, Miley rebuked, "...Tell her it's true, right?"

"...It's fine, Oliver," Daphne urged him, her scarlet eyes containing a slight mischievousness. "...I won't bite if you answer her."

"Hahaha...Well, it's true." Oliver confirmed, nodding his head. "...They were the ones who ruled over the humans before Moshel was born."

"...See, I told you," Miley smiled proudly, looking at the brown-haired girl—Ruby.

"...That doesn't make sense," Ruby whispered softly, her voice thin and filled with doubt. "...Were they related?"

"...What happened?" Ethan, who sat with them, asked curiously, looking at Ruby.

"...Should I reply, or are you going to handle it?" Daphne shifted in her seat, looking at Ruby, who nodded in agreement, passing the book towards her.

"So...In the downfall of 'that' Empire, two people are mentioned vaguely."

Daphne explained, turning the pages of an old book in front of her.

"...The first one is the [Promised Prince], and I am not sure about the second person, but he might be the previous [Exiled Prince]."

I leaned in, now listening closely to what she had to say.

"...Why do you say that?" Oliver asked, giving her a doubtful look.

She looked conflicted for some reason but replied nonetheless, "...I mean, the church hasn't confirmed it, but from what I know and researched, they could be the same person."

"...The [Promised Prince]?" Ethan asked, frowning. "...First time I'm hearing about this."

22:50

"...Nothing much is known about him," Miley chimed in, looking at Ethan. "...The only thing that stands out is that he is promised to rule of the entire realm."

"...Oye, Az—"

"...Don't you fucking dare say that," I snapped at Oliver before he could finish his sentence.

"...Language, student Azariah."

"..."

I quieted down as Daphne glared at me.

"...Anyway, they are shown as beings that opposed each other." She continued, ignoring me. "...But something different happened three thousand years ago."

"...What is that?" Ethan inquired, his interest evident in his voice.

She took a deep breath before replying, "...The [Promised Prince] sided with the supposedly [Exiled Prince] in the Akasha Holy War."

"...And why did he do that?" Oliver questioned, and I was wondering the same thing.

"...No idea," Daphne replied, shrugging. "...It's not really confirmed, though, so don't take it seriously. It could be a myth, just like Moshel's Sword Maiden."

"..."

I took a deep breath in sharply as I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes.

"...Are you alright?"

Oliver's voice echoed in my ears, but I waved my hand, indicating for him not to worry.

"...Still, how does one know who the [Exiled Prince] is?" Miley's doubtful words entered my ears. "...They can't just say anyone is him, right?"

"Hey, Az."

I opened my eyes gently as Ashlyn dashed towards me, patting my shoulder.

"...Show me one of the light magic circles, pretty please."

"...Sigh."

Sighing, I opened my palm as I imagined the runic symbol of light while simultaneously listening to Daphne.

"...Well, there is a reason that the one from three thousand years ago was called the [Exiled Prince]," Daphne replied solemnly, looking at us.

"...What?" I asked while making the keystone around the symbol.

"...Because he killed the Children of Gods."

[Azaria—]

BOOM!!!

My heart beat dropped shraply, concentration broke, and the magic circle blasted in my hand, illuminating the entire library.